Research Data Science is a growing part of the research-software ecosystem. Many people working in this space sit between traditional research and research software engineering, applying statistics and AI, and building data-driven workflows to answer research questions. Inspired by the growing recognition of RSEs within research, we propose an adjacent initiative to define and recognise the role of Research Data Scientists (RDScis).
RDSci Connect is a half-day satellite event for people working at this intersection. Whether you identify as a Research Data Scientist, work in a dedicated data science team, or are an RSE whose projects are heavily data-science driven, this session is designed to bring the community together. This event is sponsored by the Institute for Data and AI at the University of Birmingham.
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What this Event is About
This event creates dedicated space to build community with others doing this work. This interactive session will include:
- Lightning talks on models, methods, tools, and best practices
- A panel discussion on lessons from applied data science projects
- Facilitated round-table discussions on the RDSci landscape, collaboratively building a consensus statement on the value of RDScis in the age of GenAI
- A short community wrap-up and survey
These discussions will also begin collectively mapping how research data science is organised across institutions, helping build a clearer picture of the community.
Outcomes
The session will produce a short summary report capturing:
- An overview of the current RDSci community
- Shared challenges in RDSci practice
- A consensus statement in support of the RDSci community
This will provide a foundation for future community activities.